Mountain top in Chile to be blasted off

[knocker]

Mountain top in Chile to be blasted off for Extremely Large Telescope

Most ambitious project yet for European Southern Observatory will be large enough to search for life on other planets

 

 

Shortly after lunch on Thursday afternoon the silence of the Atacama desert in Chile will be rudely broken by the dull crack of dynamite sending a rush of mountain rock skywards.

 

The explosion, planned for 2pm local time (7pm BST), marks the start of a months-long project to lop the top off the 3,000m-high Cerro Armazones. Once the dust has settled and the rubble has been cleared, the mountain will be smaller, flatter, and ready to host the largest optical and infra-red telescope in the world.

 

http://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/jun/18/astronomy-extremely-large-telescope-e-elt-chile-life-other-planets

[karyo]

 

Mountain top in Chile to be blasted off for Extremely Large Telescope

Most ambitious project yet for European Southern Observatory will be large enough to search for life on other planets

 

 

http://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/jun/18/astronomy-extremely-large-telescope-e-elt-chile-life-other-planets

 

I hate things like that! I see mountains as nature's precious monuments, we don't have the right to destroy them like that!

 

Karyo

[knocker]

I hate things like that! I see mountains as nature's precious monuments, we don't have the right to destroy them like that!

 

Karyo

 

I agree with you regarding mountain top coal mining. The question here is is it justified in the pursuit of knowledge?

[Polar Maritime]

You will be able to watch the top blow off live here in 7hrs..

 

http://new.livestream.com/ESOAstronomy/eeltgroundbreaking

[4wd]

I agree with you regarding mountain top coal mining. The question here is is it justified in the pursuit of knowledge?

Oh, the hand wringing of first world dilemmas.

[laserguy]

I agree with you regarding mountain top coal mining. The question here is is it justified in the pursuit of knowledge?

 

Surely, it's far more worthwhile to power our own planet than to find out if there's some type of lichen growing on a planet light years away?? Though I do agree with you that destroying mountains in such a blatant and vulgar manner is unacceptable - in either case.

[knocker]

Oh, the hand wringing of first world dilemmas.

 

Are you speaking in tongues again?

[Styx]

I hate things like that! I see mountains as nature's precious monuments, we don't have the right to destroy them like that!

 

Karyo

 

Ah yes, this really irritates me too. On a smaller scale, I'm always annoyed at seeing a residential subdivision making inroads over the top of a hill. There seems to be no aesthetic appreciation to protect natures major landmarks. Urban planning leaves a lot to be desired ( down here ).

Edited June 29, 2014 by Styx